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"Friends" Director Reveals Which Guest Star Was Just ‘Not_Particularly_Funny’
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Ubiquitous
Sep 1, 2023, 8:31:21 AM9/1/23
to
“Friends” director James Burrow said that British actress Helen Baxendale —
who played Ross Geller’s love interest during the series’ fourth season — did
not quite fit the show because, while very nice, she was “not particularly
funny.”
Burrow, whose director credits include episodes of “Cheers” and “Will &
Grace,” made the comments in his new memoir, “Directed By James Burrow” —
where he said that the end result was the other actors, particularly Ross
Geller actor David Schwimmer, had no real foil for their own comedic scenes
when Baxendale was onscreen.
“She was nice but not particularly funny. Schwimmer had no one to bounce off.
It was like clapping with one hand,” Burrow recalled, adding, “In sitcoms and
any type of romantic comedy, the funny is just as important as the chemistry.
We discovered that any new girlfriend for Ross needed to be as funny as
Rachel.”
But time may have been a factor, as Burrow noted, adding that often because
of shooting deadlines and actors’ schedules, it was impossible to recast such
roles even if the fit was not right.
“You need someone who gets laughs. Sometimes you start an arc and it ain’t
working out, so you have to get rid of that person. If it’s a day player,
it’s a quick goodbye,” Burrow continued. “The reverse is also true. If
there’s chemistry, the writers go to work to figure out some way of keeping
the actor.”
For her part, Baxendale was largely complimentary of the “Friends” cast and
grateful for her own time on the show – but also noted that she had not
really been ready for the kind of fame she achieved even from her brief stint
as Emily opposite Schwimmer’s character.
“I had a little glimpse of what fame holds, and I decided it held a load of
nothing. It contained nothing that mattered. Some people can deal with that
well; it sits on their shoulders fine. But it wasn’t for me,” she told The
Daily Mail in 2012. “I saw it as a gilded prison. It was something I wasn’t
prepared for. But it was quickly forgotten. I don’t get the same attention
now.”
“Fame just didn’t fit in with my life. I don’t know how much would have come
from staying in the States anyway. I didn’t want to live in America, when all
my circumstances were leading me back to Britain. I don’t regret it for a
minute,” she said.
--
Let's go Brandon!
who played Ross Geller’s love interest during the series’ fourth season — did
not quite fit the show because, while very nice, she was “not particularly
funny.”
Burrow, whose director credits include episodes of “Cheers” and “Will &
Grace,” made the comments in his new memoir, “Directed By James Burrow” —
where he said that the end result was the other actors, particularly Ross
Geller actor David Schwimmer, had no real foil for their own comedic scenes
when Baxendale was onscreen.
“She was nice but not particularly funny. Schwimmer had no one to bounce off.
It was like clapping with one hand,” Burrow recalled, adding, “In sitcoms and
any type of romantic comedy, the funny is just as important as the chemistry.
We discovered that any new girlfriend for Ross needed to be as funny as
Rachel.”
But time may have been a factor, as Burrow noted, adding that often because
of shooting deadlines and actors’ schedules, it was impossible to recast such
roles even if the fit was not right.
“You need someone who gets laughs. Sometimes you start an arc and it ain’t
working out, so you have to get rid of that person. If it’s a day player,
it’s a quick goodbye,” Burrow continued. “The reverse is also true. If
there’s chemistry, the writers go to work to figure out some way of keeping
the actor.”
For her part, Baxendale was largely complimentary of the “Friends” cast and
grateful for her own time on the show – but also noted that she had not
really been ready for the kind of fame she achieved even from her brief stint
as Emily opposite Schwimmer’s character.
“I had a little glimpse of what fame holds, and I decided it held a load of
nothing. It contained nothing that mattered. Some people can deal with that
well; it sits on their shoulders fine. But it wasn’t for me,” she told The
Daily Mail in 2012. “I saw it as a gilded prison. It was something I wasn’t
prepared for. But it was quickly forgotten. I don’t get the same attention
now.”
“Fame just didn’t fit in with my life. I don’t know how much would have come
from staying in the States anyway. I didn’t want to live in America, when all
my circumstances were leading me back to Britain. I don’t regret it for a
minute,” she said.
--
Let's go Brandon!
anim8rfsk
Sep 2, 2023, 12:41:44 AM9/2/23
to
Ubiquitous <web...@polaris.net> wrote:
> “Friends” director James Burrow said that British actress Helen Baxendale —
> who played Ross Geller’s love interest during the series’ fourth season — did
> not quite fit the show because, while very nice, she was “not particularly
> funny.”
Oh, no, she was just horrible. But then her character was supposed to be a
> “Friends” director James Burrow said that British actress Helen Baxendale —
> who played Ross Geller’s love interest during the series’ fourth season — did
> not quite fit the show because, while very nice, she was “not particularly
> funny.”
completely humorless bitch so it worked.
The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.
Ian J. Ball
Sep 2, 2023, 11:42:16 AM9/2/23
to
On 9/1/23 9:41 PM, anim8rfsk wrote:
> Ubiquitous <web...@polaris.net> wrote:
>
>> “Friends” director James Burrow said that British actress Helen Baxendale —
>> who played Ross Geller’s love interest during the series’ fourth season — did
>> not quite fit the show because, while very nice, she was “not particularly
>> funny.”
>
> Oh, no, she was just horrible. But then her character was supposed to be a
> completely humorless bitch so it worked.
Yep - I remember despising her and that character.
> Ubiquitous <web...@polaris.net> wrote:
>
>> “Friends” director James Burrow said that British actress Helen Baxendale —
>> who played Ross Geller’s love interest during the series’ fourth season — did
>> not quite fit the show because, while very nice, she was “not particularly
>> funny.”
>
> Oh, no, she was just horrible. But then her character was supposed to be a
> completely humorless bitch so it worked.
The funny thing is, IIRC, I knew who Baxendale was even before this, and
actually disliked her *before* "Friends"!!
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